As yours truly likes to point out with intermittent hand claps whenever it’s appropriate (most often when it’s not): gender is a social construct and the vast and diverse amount of talent that represents Antwerp fashion has always explored queerness and gender identity and fluidity in an unabashed and tone-setting way. Whether it has been the work of icons such as Walter Van Beirendonck who has paved the way since the early 80s with collections turning traditional notions of masculinity on their head (for example the SS00 “Gender?” collection) or even this year’s batch of Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp Fashion Department graduates like Robbie Van Mierlo, the message has been uniform: society’s limits just do not apply here. There’s no better time than Pride (celebrating its tenth anniversary in Antwerp) to soak in this always-needed message from important voices.